Billiard-table.



E. A. KEMP.

BILLIARD TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23. 19I6.

1n: mwms perms ca.. swam-1.1mm" wAsnmamm o c.

E. A. KEMP.

BILLIAHD TABLE.

APPLICATION F|LED FEB. 23. I916.

1,220,236. Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E. A. KEMP.

BILLIARD TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23. ms.

1,220,236. Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- ficgJJ Z gap; 7

ERNEST ALFRED KEMP, 0E cHA'rELAINE, NEAR GENEVA,- SWITZERLAND.

BILLI-ARID-TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

Application 'filed February 23, 1916. Serial No. 79,968.

To all whom z't may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST ALFRED KEMP,

mechanician, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Chatelaine, near Geneva, in the Confederation of Switzerland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements'in Billiard-Tables, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is the provision of an apparatus by the use of which any suitable table in current use, as for instance a dining table,.may be converted into a billiard table.

The apparatus made in accordance with my invention comprises stretcher devices intended to be affixed at the four corners of a table and to stretch under high tension, around about the said table and at a predeterminated height above it, threads or wires intended to replace the cushions of a billiard table of usual construction. These threads or wires may be made of vegetable fiber but they are preferably made of metallic cables. These thread or wire cushions .have sufiicient resiliency to permit the game with a cloth, surrounded at the edges by a wood frame and provided with a water gage or other means by which 1t may be placed in a horizontal position upon any usual table, as will be hereinafter more particularly described.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a view of a billiard table apparatus made in accordance with my present invention, including the table-plate. V

Fig. 2 is a view, on an enlarged'scale, ofone corner of the billiard table.

Fig. 3 is an inverted 'plan of the parts shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line AB of Fig. 2. a E

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line CD of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view, on the line FF of Fig.1.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of bracket.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of another form of bracket used in carrying out the invention. V

Fig. 9 is a plan of the bracket shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation showing the manner of connecting the wire to the adjusting screw.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view illustrating the use of a form of the invention shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11 showing the supporting bracket in position at opposite corner of the table.

Fig. 13 is a general plan similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating the use of the form of supporting bracket shown in Figs. 11 and 12.

Fig. 14 is a plan of a variation of the form of bracket shown in Figs. 11 and 12,

Fig. 15 is a side elevation of the form of bracket shown in Fig. lhand Fi 16 is a side elevation of a com le- .p

mentary bracket used in conjunction with the bracket shown in Fig. 15.

In the construction illustrated in Figs 1 to 6, a is a rectangular plate which is in} tended to be set on a table of usual construction and which is covered by a cloth I) bordered by means of a frame 0.

Cross-beams d are mounted under the plate a and each of the same may be provided with a foot 6 in the form of a screw, which may be turned more or less into a nut, located in the cross-beam CZ in order to regulate the horizontal position of the plate a in the event of the table upon which the device is placed being not exactly horizontal.

The diametrically opposite corners of the plate a are provided with studs 7 which are used as points of support for the stretching device. At the two other corners of the said plate are provided screws 9 to each of which is attached one extremity of a thread or wire h while the other extremity of the same is engaged and adapted to be drawn tight by the corresponding stretching de vice.

The plate a is moreover provided at each of its four corners, at the point Where the two threads or wires cross each other with an adjustable stud '5 adapted to support the stretched threads. Each of these adjustable studs 2' supports two; threads h and is provided consequently with two setsof suitably placed notches. The stud i is screwed in ametallic member Z set into the plate a' tion to determine the height of the thread or wire depending upon the diameter of th billiard balls is.

The stretching device for each line of thread or wire consists of a rod 'm. to which one of the extremities of the corresponding thread or wire is connected. This may be done by passing the end of the thread or wire through bores provided for this purpose in the end of the rod and then knotting the thread or wire as shown in Fig. 10, or it may be done in any suitable manner.

Each screwed rod in is passed through a hole 7 in the corresponding support or bracket f as it is shown in the drawing, and engaged by a thumb-screw m by which the corresponding wire 71 fixed at its opposite end and passing over two studs 71 may be stretched. to the required tension.

When the four threads or wires h are stretched in this way the apparatus may be used in the same manner as a billiard table with rubber cushions, the lines of thread or wire which extend along the edges and cross at the corners of the table being used instead of the ordinary cushions.

The threads must be placed above the table at a height approximately of the diameter of the billiard balls. The feet 6 may be used instead of the screws 9 to .anchor one end of each thread or wire.

Fig. 7 shows another form of the studs or brackets. In this the stud f is provided with a double bearing f 7. The bearing f is placed above and the bearing f below the plate a, and the stud is secured in place by a locking screw 1 which is turned down to firmly grip the plate. By means of this device the studs f may be fixed to any table as for instance to a dining table. In the use of this structure the stud i will be set into holes provided therefor in the table and which may be filled by suitable plugs when the table is in ordinary use.

The Figs. 8 and 9 show another form of the invention wherein the stretching device may be applied to any table whatever, for example, to a marble table as used in public houses.

In this construction the studs f are provided with a loop 7 adapted to receive the corner of a table a The loop f is provided with a boss forming the base for the screw stud z and with a thumb-screw g to fix it to the table a The threaded rods m secured to the cables x and m in this structure are engaged in the notches f of the stud 7. There are provided four studs f as above described, one substituted for each of the screws 9 of the first form of the invention, the other two combined with the threaded rods m and nuts m as before described.

Referring to Figs. 11 and 12, the bracket, adapted to fit over andbe received upon the corner of the table, may include side members 0 and .0 the planes of which are at right angles to each other, a top member 0 and a bottom member 0 made integral with the side members and between which parts there is an opening through which the corner of the table projects when the bracket is in position as shown in these figures of the drawing. The bracket may be secured in position by means of the thumb screw 79 which passes through the bottom 0 of the bracket and engages the underside of the table upon which the bracket is placed. The top member 0 of the bracket is provided with a socket 7) adapted to receive the adjustable support screw 79" in the head of which in suitable positions there are notches y)" and 22 through the former pair of which the thread or wire 1 passes and through the latter pair of which the thread or wire 7' passes. These threads or wires cross each other in the head of the adjusting screw so that as in the other forms of the invention the position of the adjusting screws determines the height of the wires above the table. In this form of the invention the side member 0 of the bracket is provided with a lug or extension 8 offset therefrom at an angle and provided with suitable apertures 8 through which one end of the thread or wire '1" is passed and secured in place. The other side 0 of the bracket is provided with a similar lug or extension .9 in which there is a hole for the threaded rod 8 to which one end of the thread or wire 9 is secured, and the threaded rod 8 is provided with'a thumb screw .9 by which the thread or wire 9 may be drawn up to the required tension for use. The use of this form of bracket is illustrated in Fig. 13 in which as will be apparent each thread or wire is adjusted to the required tension from one corner of the table and at each crossing point of the wires at the corners of the table the wires are adjustable to the required height.

As shown in Figs. 14, 15 and 16, the support brackets may be secured in position in a manner similar to that shown in the form illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12, and may be made in complementary pairs the brackets of each pair being placed on diametrically opposite corners of the table so that in one pair of brackets the ends of the threads or wires are fixed and from the other pair of brackets the opposite ends of these threads or wires are adjustable so that the required tension may be placed on the same. One form of this bracket is shown in Figs. 14: and 15 in which the lugs or extensions are both provided with series of apertures 6 through which the threads or wires are passed and secured while in Fig. 16 it will be seen that in the complementary form of this bracket the lugs or extensions on both sides are provided with holes through which the screw threaded rods 8 pass in order that by turning the thumb screws .9 the threads or wires may be drawn up to the required tension.

The balls to be used on this billiard table may be for instance golf-balls with smooth surface which will be propelled by being struck with a suitable billiard-cue.

The thread may be made of any suitable vegetable fiber or replaced by wire or cable of suitable metal, or of a wire or cable braided with any suitable textile material.

I claim-as my invention 1. A billiard table attachment comprising brackets adapted to be removably secured to the corners of the table, lines acting as cushions and crossing each other at the corners of the table, adjustable means for supporting the lines at their crossing points at the desired height above the table, and means for placing said lines under the necessary tension for use. I

2. A billiard table attachment comprising brackets adapted to be removably secured to the corners of the table, lines acting as cushions and crossing each other at the corners of the table, adjustable means for supporting the lines at their crossing points at the desired height above the table, and means for placing the necessary tension on any of said lines independently of the others.

3. A billiard table attachment comprising brackets each adapted to be secured to a corner of the table, lines adapted to act as cushions and made to cross at the corners of the table, adjustable studs through each of which two of the lines pass at their crossing point, in order that said lines may be placed at the required height above the table, and means for placing the required tension on the said lines for use.

' 4. A billiard table attachment comprising bracketsv each adapted to be secured to a corner of the table, lines adapted to act as cushions and made to cross at the corners of the table, adjustable studs through each of which two of the lines pass at their crossing point, so that said lines may be placed at the required height above the table, and means for placing the required tension on any of said lines independently of the others.

5. A billiard table attachment comprising brackets each adapted to fit on and be secured to the corner of the table, lines acting as cushions and crossing each other at the corners of the table, means carried by each bracket for supporting the two lines at their crossing point, and means associated with each line for placing the same under the necessary tension for use.

6. A billiard table attachment comprising brackets each adapted to fit on and be secured to a corner of the table, a socket associated with the top of each bracket, a stud adjustable to position in each socket, lines acting as cushions and crossing each other in the notched heads of the said adjustable studs, one end of each line being fixed in one side of a bracket, screw threaded rods to each of which the opposite end of one of said lines is secured, each screw threaded rod being placed through a hole provided therefor in the corresponding side of a bracket at the opposite end of the table, and a thumb screw fitted on each screw threaded rod so that by ERNEST ALFRED KEMP.

Witnesses: LOUIS H. MUNmn, Roi). DE WURSTEMBURG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

